Escape Timeline

Escape (Exchange Sponsored Child Abuse Prevention Effort) was formed by the Salem Exchange Clubs in 1982 to raise funds for a child abuse prevention program. The goal was to open a Child Abuse Prevention “CAP” center. During the next two years the Exchange Clubs worked to gain community support and began organizing fundraising events. The Escape board worked to organize and provide over-site of the child abuse program and in 1984 Escape received a 501(c)(3) status with the IRS,(under “Exchange Club Child Abuse Prevention Center of the Mid-Valley). In 1988 Escape opened the Child Abuse Prevention Center with support from Catholic Community Services. This center operated for over 14 years. In 2002 due to economic changes and what was termed at the time “Child Abuse Fatigue”, donation support transitioned to other programs. Coinciding with this child abuse statistics showed a reduction in reported cases and child abuse was no longer the prevelant issue. The subsequent investment reductions closed the center.

March 2010 Escape reopens Child Abuse Prevention Center under a new name the

“Forever Families Program”

“The Forever Families Program” is a member of the National Exchange Club (NEC) project for the prevention of child abuse and the Fostering Hope Initiative (FHI).

The Forever Families Program for Child Abuse Prevention is part of a collective effort, Jess Armus with ESCAPE, Jim Seymour from Catholic Community Services and 21 strategic partners worked together to creat the “Fostering Hope Initiative”. FHI’s long term goal: Reduce the need for Foster Care in Marion county by 50%!

The Fostering Hope Initiative is one of 12 sites invited to membership in Frontiers of Innovation, and is one of four projects in the nation selected for funding by the Quality Improvement Center on Early Childhood, USDHHS.

The NEC with 79 centers and over 100 sites is one of the U.S.’s largest and oldest parent aide programs. Following national standards of operation, training, supervision, documentation, and closure procedures provides effective programming.

Escape’s Forever Families program is funded

by The Salem / Keizer Exchange Clubs, private donations and the grants.